Cubs 4, Giants 0 Sammy Sosa hit his league-leading 36th homer and added an r.b.i. single as host Chicago beat San Francisco.

He struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings as host Chicago ran its winning streak to six games with a victory over St. Louis.

Blackhawks 4, Flames 1 Joe Murphy, coming off a disappointing regular season, opened the playoffs with two goals and an assist for host Chicago.

Philadelphia won the National Billiard League Championship in a 50-47 victory over host Chicago, clinching the best of five series, 3 games to 0.

Blackhawks 6, Sabres 3 Jeremy Roenick scored a short-handed goal with less than a second left in the second period, igniting host Chicago.

Cubs 3, Pirates 2 Brant Brown was 3 for 3 with a solo home run to lead host Chicago.

White Sox 6, Royals 4 Ron Karkovice's three-run homer highlighted a five-run sixth inning for host Chicago.

Cubs 10, Expos 3 Ozzie Timmons hit a two-run homer as host Chicago defeated Montreal.

White Sox 11, Tigers 6 Harold Baines hit a bases-loaded single to break a seventh-inning tie as host Chicago rallied past Detroit.

Tigers 3, White Sox 1 Willie Blair (10-4) threw a career-best three-hitter for his sixth victory this month, leading Detroit over host Chicago.